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. 2020 Oct 6;11:573557. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.573557

Figure 1.

Figure 1

The kidney, glomerulus, and the glomerular filtration barrier. Each kidney consists of about 1 million nephrons. Each nephron consists of a glomerulus and a tubular compartment (A). The glomerulus is assembled by four different cell types, namely parietal epithelial cells, glomerular endothelial cells (GEnC), podocytes (visceral epithelial cells), and mesangial cells (B). GEnC and podocytes share a common extracellular matrix, the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). GEnC and their fenestrae are covered by the endothelial glycocalyx. Podocytes contain foot processes with slit diaphragms that are wrapped around the exterior of glomerular capillaries. Together, the GEnC and the endothelial glycocalyx, GBM and podocytes comprise the glomerular filtration barrier to filter the blood and remaining essential plasma proteins in the circulation (C). RBC, Red Blood Cell; GBM, Glomerular Basement Membrane; GEnC, Glomerular Endothelial Cell.